A clear message in two school districts

November 12, 2001|The Morning Call

Voters in two Lehigh Valley school districts registered their "yea" or "nay" for new high schools last week, even though the actual construction projects were not on any ballot. Residents in the Catasauqua and Northampton districts got their message across, nevertheless, in their choices of school board members.

Catasauqua district residents opposed to new high school plans have said all along they wanted to put the $28 million project on a ballot. Their choice of school board members may have accomplished that goal. The catalyst for a new high school in the district actually is its middle school. The 87-year-old Lincoln Middle School is burdened with plumbing, heating and space problems. Consequently, school officials would like to move the middle-schoolers to the current high school and construct a new building for the older students. Opinions have varied, however, as to whether it is feasible to instead renovate the middle school. The resulting decision by the present school board is highly controversial: After a fruitless search for new land within the district, the board opted for a 57-acre property that actually is in neighboring Allen Township, within Northampton School District's boundaries.

On election day, the top vote-getters were Democrats Penny Hahn and Lester Ettl and Republicans Donna Atkinson and Sally Reis. School board veteran Atkinson wants a new school, but not outside the district, while newcomers Hahn, Ettl and Reis oppose building, period. But the school board's agreement with Willow Brook Development Corp. guarantees that the district will proceed with the sale or face a $150,000 penalty. So, as of election day, the Catasauqua school controversy became even more complicated.

By contrast, in the Northampton Area School District, voters last week registered their apparent agreement with plans for a new $60 million high school in East Allen Township. A slate of three candidates who support the controversial construction project, incumbents Gail R. Wolfel and Ted Fritz and newcomer Debra Leibenguth won seats. Also elected was Madelyn Kemp, who campaigned with unsuccessful candidates Susan M. Ritton and Jane Erdo against the new school and other board decisions. But since newcomer Kemp will be in the minority on the board, her opinion about a new school won't carry as much weight.